Principal Soil Scientist

SLR Consulting; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

SLR Consulting is seeking a Principal Soil Scientist to lead soil projects across Australia, with a focus on rehabilitation, land management and environmental consulting. You will work within our Soils, Geochemistry, Toxicology & Risk group, mentoring junior scientists and delivering high-quality reports for a diverse client base.

The role offers flexible location within Australia and opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders, manage complex projects, and contribute to business growth

Qualifications

• A professional qualification in environmental science, engineering, or related field.
• 10–15+ years’ professional experience, preferably in consulting.
• Detailed soil survey skills including sampling, mapping and classification.
• Knowledge of Australian environmental legislation and land-management guidelines.

Responsibilities

• Be a key support person on large projects and help win work through client networks.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team across Australia (25+ disciplines).
• Deliver high-quality reports and perform technical reviews in soil science.
• Lead and mentor junior scientists and provide technical leadership in soil science and environmental consulting.

Skills

Soil surveys

Soil analysis

Project management

Mentoring juniors

Client relationships

Education

Bachelor's degree in environmental science or engineering

Job description

Principal Soil Scientist – Australia

About the business and the role

At SLR we Make Sustainability Happen. SLR is an international environmental consultancy with a globally recognised reputation for providing high-quality tailored services. With 1200+ staff in Asia-Pacific, we provide consultancy advice and support on a wide range of strategic and site-specific issues to a diverse and growing base of business, regulatory and governmental clients. We celebrate a ‘One Team Culture’, where bringing together diversity of thought and expression is key to building the best team to deliver excellent results.

Siting in the Practice; Soils, Geochemistry, Toxicology & Risk you will be an instrumental member of the team and can work with industry leaders! We are flexible on location for the right person to join our growing team. If you have an entrepreneurial mind, technically curious, truly love what you do and what to be in an environment of fun people and high achievers then SLR is the place for you.

Responsibilities

As a member of the Soil Science team, you will support delivery of a range of projects across the wider Soils, Geochemistry, Toxicology and Risk group. You will be responsible for the following:

• Be an all-round key support person to large projects as well as take responsibility for your own projects by contributing to winning work and creating pipeline through client relationships and networks.
• Work beside the rest of the team across Australia which includes over 25 other technical disciplines.
• Delivering the best possible outcome for clients with a focus on quality.
• Preparing high-quality reports, and technical review in your specialist area.

Skills and experience

You will also possess the following skills:

• A professional qualification in environmental science or engineering or other relevant degree.
• 10-15+ years’ experience at a professional level, ideally in consulting.
• Expertise in conducting detailed soil surveys, including soil sampling, mapping, and classification according to the Australian Soil Classification system.
• Proficiency in interpreting and analysing soil properties such as texture, structure, pH, salinity, nutrient levels, and organic matter content.
• In-depth knowledge of Australian environmental legislation, regulations, and guidelines related to soil and land management, agricultural impact assessment and rehabilitation. Including federal and state specific legislation. Including the guidelines associated with strategic cropping land (SCL) in Queensland and biophysical strategic agricultural land (BSAL) assessments in NSW.
• Ability to assess potential impacts of mining, renewable energy, roads and rail etc. activities on soil health, erosion, and land degradation, and to develop mitigation strategies.
• Comprehensive knowledge of best practices for land rehabilitation, with a focus on soil restoration and sustainable land use.
• Ability to assess soil suitability for rehabilitation and to design site-specific soil management, soil amelioration and revegetation strategies.
• Strong project management skills.
• Experience in mentoring and training junior scientists and providing technical leadership in soil science and environmental consulting.

Our Benefits

We are proud of our unique culture where we work together to collaborate on projects to get the best possible outcome for our clients. Whether you’re working in the office, from home or a mix of the two, we recognise that every person is different, and our benefits aim to ensure that we cater for all.

You can find a comprehensive list here.

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion. Please note that interviews are conducted with gender diverse interview panels to the best of our ability.

When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.